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    OC Bartending School

    4.6 (97 reviews)
    Open 1:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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    Learning craft whiskey sours, taught by Santiago!
    Sarah G.

    I love orange bartending school!!! The most convenient attribute about this school is that everything is at your own pace. All the instructors are down to earth, amazing people that absolutely help you reach your goals! I have learned recipes that I had never heard of before which is a lot of fun & how important speed is within this field. Whether you are trying to pick up a new hobby or make great money, OC Bartending is it!

    Part of the huuuge bar.
    C.J. L.

    I love this school!! As someone who had a little bit of experience already (designated family bartender.. lol), the first few lessons felt easy, but I learned so much as I progressed!! All of the instructors were very friendly and knowledgeable, and make you feel comfortable at whatever pace you want to progress at. Also felt great that no one was rude, weird, or judgmental.. as a gay man, the vibes are just as important as the content. Anyway, I'm so happy I chose to come here, and that I got to meet everyone.

    Bartending Certificate
    Carina R.

    This place is legit!!! It's so cool how as a student you're able to practice behind an actual functioning bar. Each bar has it's own speed gun, speed racks, ice bin, and a colorful assortment of liquor and liqueurs. Each and every instructor here are wells of knowledge and are more than eager to help teach/guide you forward in your bartending journey. The instructors have created a very supportive environment where even students who are further down in lessons help other students out. I'm happy I made the right choice in picking this school. I recently graduated and I am excited to use my newfound knowledge and skills out in the real world! Thank You Orange Bartending School!!!

    If you've considered being a bartender or want to master the art and skills behind the job, going here is the choice of a lifetime. In my time of being a student, I worked tirelessly on the course material and it payed off in the long run, teaching me more about mixology than the average bartender. I cherish all friendships I've made here, we helped each other through each lesson, supported one another through the tests and gave a helping hand for whatever they needed. An unexpected and unforgettable benefit to the school The classes are personally taught by three instructors: Santi, a charismatic and highly skilled instructor who is both fun and professional. Takes on many varying identities, he's unique and an impressive teacher. Coty, the witty, passionately hard worker who can instantly connect on any topic. Smartest person in the room without needing to show it. and last but certainly not least Kevin, who is warm yet Firmly direct and expertly experienced in the craft. Demands the highest standard in his students and is the ideal mentor. After my graduation, I worked events which is an opportunity to learn real bartending and getting your hands dirty. Yet during my 3 months in events, i recently landed a real bartending job at hotel, all in due to the job placement program at the school and i can only expect my mixology career to keep expanding. I will forever be grateful at the amount of time i spent enjoying the experience of the school and the time I saved avoiding the stressful situation of trying to be a bartender the inexperienced way. The bartender life is yours to take, all you gotta do is show up.

    Pink lady
    Allison I.

    I took a week off work and did the accelerated program. Some guys thought I was nuts, a 40 hour course in a week, but I already work a 40 hour a week job so it didn't seem like a big deal. I understand if you have time and are not currently employed the two week class may be easier or better, but I think the way I did it was good . The web site needs work. it is really rough, leaves lots of questions unanswered. But, I was able to get some decent response from mails and I had enough to move forward. I admit the program is a little wacky. You check I and get your book and there is a number of chapters, but you are not instructed in the order the book goes thru. Its odd, but they have a system and it works. So basically if you go to class all week but miss one, you go back the following week and make up the lesson the day you missed. They are good about being flexible with you, but there are some things that are not. They will arrive at exactly class time, so don't worry if you think no one is coming, they will be there, just not early. The school is open for you to practice at any time which is nice, cause there is no where else your going to be able to practice. The bottles, could be better marked. some are so old they put label's on them and I like color that I can refer to a visual instead of having to try and read the bottle to inquire out what it is. Testing is on Fridays, but they will work with you if that's an issue. There is two parts to the exam to pass. They both are a little tough. 90% in 166 answer test is a little high. I took it after the one week and got a 77%, but remember I did class in one week and had very little study time. I had like 3 days to get 200 recipes in my pea brain and honestly, the 1/2 oz and 1 oz intricacy's and the zombies killed me at first, but the second time was the charm, I ended up with a 99%and honestly, if they offer you cards to buy, do it. they flashcards are helpful although you can go onto Cram or Quizlet and print ones for yourself. Beware there have been slight changes to some recipes and like I said the test is pretty strict, so even if you know a different variation of the recipe, learn theirs and use yours later. The speed test is crazy and unnecessary. I understand the need for speed. But i am an older lady, not that old but when the majority of the students and teachers are in their 20's you feel old. I will never work in a bar that would rather I pour quickly over taking time to craft a cocktail that will be better. But again...do what they want to get the diploma. OK, So I didn't get all the rues the first time around so I failed miserable. I also live too far to come in and practice. By the way, you don't need to practice, you need to know the recipes. After the second try and 12 drinks in 6 1/2 minuets, I learned I didn't need to use my shaker and or do a roll and put for the ricks class or collins glass drinks So after a second fail, I passed shaving a minute off my time and ended up making 12 horrible drinks in 5 1/2 minutes. Whatever, I passed and I got the paper saying it. My friends teased me, why did I want the paper, just go out there and get a job, right? Well no...with ability to get their recruitment lists on Tuesdays and Wednesday's between 3 and 7 pm. The first list I got was a shock. A lot of great spots I know of by my house. So I went ahead and got started with applying. This was Tuesday. And On Friday out of curiosity I went to one of the bars listed and realized it was my lucky day. They were having a open call for applications ad doing interviews on the spot. I didn't think id have a chance, it is a high end spot in fashion island. after 2 hours of interviewing and mostly waiting, I landed a job and start in two weeks. My biggest thanks got to the two ladies that encouraged me the most...Hannah and Kendra. your both a assets to the company and i'm lucky to have been learning form you both. Thanks and cheer's, see you at the bar!

    Highly recommend this school I was stuck between 2 I was looking at and this was definitely the best decision I've made the manager and instructor are great . You can come in at your own time and they help you find a job after you graduate. 10/10

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - OC Bartending School

    Review Highlights - OC Bartending School

    I reached out to the team at Orange Bartending School to schedule a craft cocktail class as a team building activity.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Inland Empire Bartending School & Staffing

    Inland Empire Bartending School & Staffing

    4.7
    (61 reviews)
    27.7 mi

    I completed this bartending course a couple of weeks ago and feel confident that I am ready to…read morebegin my career as a bartender. Nino was a very skilled and attentive teacher and showed so much patience when we asked questions. The course contains a lot of information to learn so it is important to study outside of class. I really enjoyed the challenge of it because I feel it gets us ready for the fast paced environment of the job. I appreciated the time we had to practice the recipes and improve our technique. Nino had us work collaboratively with other students to practice our recipes. This was a very effective teaching strategy that I believe created a team environment and helped us bond with each other. The information we received on resume building and job searching was very helpful to me because I have only held jobs in the education field. Nino was very responsive to my emails throughout the program and he provided me feedback quickly upon receiving my resume. Overall, I highly recommend Inland Empire Bartending School. I've already encouraged many friends to sign up for the course.

    This one's gonna be lengthy…read more I regret this school. One of the biggest reasons I enrolled was because they heavily advertised job placement and made it sound like they would help graduates find work. In my experience, that did NOT happen. I sent my resume and along with other students I've kept in touch with, they too, did not receive any job placement ( he really does pick and choose who he wants to help ) The course felt extremely rushed. We were expected to learn and memorize over 25 cocktails in the span of only 2 weeks, which did not feel like enough time to properly practice, build confidence, and retain the information since we can only practice hands on for 6 days! ( I passed first time but I had to study like CRAZY and used YouTube.. I shouldn't have to be using YouTube if I'm literally enrolled in a class.) Anyways, POS system were supposed to be taught but didn't. The overall experience felt very unprofessional. I did not feel supported as a student. It also took two weeks to receive my certificate after completing the course, which delayed my ability to move forward with job applications. Spoiler alert, no one will hire you with no experience and without saying it, they basically want you to lie on your interview. For $600, I expected much more. We were not provided with a bar kit ( which you'd think would be included since you're paying so much for a class that only provides a binder ) and the value of the course did not match the cost. I left feeling like I paid for promises that were not fulfilled. What was especially disappointing was seeing certain graduates receive opportunities while others were left behind. The same day I graduated, three students who graduated hours after me were given the opportunity to bartend at a festival. Another person from my class was also given an opportunity and was even made an instructor shortly after completing the course. While I'm happy for those individuals, it was discouraging to see someone who had just been a student become responsible for teaching new students so quickly. It made the process feel inconsistent and unfair, especially when job placement was something that was heavily promoted. I also want to mention that I have noticed the responses to negative reviews from Nino have come across as defensive and rude rather than professional. Constructive criticism should be an opportunity to improve, not something to respond to with hostility. As someone who was unemployed, I took a leap of faith and invested $600 hoping this would help me create a new opportunity for myself. Instead, I walked away feeling disappointed, disrespected, and like I did not receive the support or value I was promised. Based on my personal experience, I do not recommend this school. UPDATE to his reply: this is NOT a fake review, he had a Memorial Day sale for $600, he does sales all the time, check his Instagram. The audacity to try to save yourself by claiming all bad reviews are fake is CRAZY. Take accountability for how terrible you run this "school". I've attached photos during my experience at this place to prove I went here. Including my name on the wall once I finished. Update part 2: He sent me this very unprofessional email. ( I sent proof of my resume being sent and I did take the workshop.)

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    Inland Empire Bartending School & Staffing
    Class photo
    Class photo
    Inland Empire Bartending School & Staffing

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    Prestige Bartender Academy

    Prestige Bartender Academy

    5.0
    (76 reviews)
    20.7 mi

    I had an amazing experience at Prestige Bartender Academy. The instructors are incredibly…read moreknowledgeable, patient, and genuinely care about helping their students succeed. The hands-on training gave me the confidence and knowledge to work behind a real bar, and the curriculum covered everything from classic cocktails and proper techniques to customer service and industry tips. The classes were fun, engaging, and professional, and I never felt rushed. They take the time to make sure everyone understands the material and gets plenty of practice. If you're serious about becoming a bartender or just want to improve your skills, I highly recommend Prestige Bartender Academy. It was one of the best investments I've made, and I left feeling prepared and excited to start my bartending journey. Elvis takes pride and he truly cares about training bartenders

    Elvis & Victor are amazing; from Beginning to advance bartending instructor. They really enjoy…read moresharing and teaching the right ways of bartending. They were so flexible with the schedule. Since I could only do Saturday's. I recommend this school! It's hands on and like people say practice makes perfect! Even after finishing the academy you able to stop by to practice your technique .

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    Prestige Bartender Academy
    Come in with none or little knowledge, leave being confident and ready for work.  Learn the skills that some barman don't even possess.
    Come in with none or little knowledge, leave being confident and ready for work. Learn the skills that some barman don't even possess.
    After your 2 week Classes we take you to learn how to set bartend and take down a bar for mobile events.

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    After your 2 week Classes we take you to learn how to set bartend and take down a bar for mobile events.

    OC Bartending School - bartendingschools - Updated August 2026

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